Method and system for monitoring and modifying a consumption forecast over a computer network

ABSTRACT

A method and system for enabling commercial web site users to monitor and display a consumption forecast for an established stocking program, wherein a stocking program is an agreement between a supplier and a customer that guarantees availability and consumption of a stocking program item based upon an established consumption forecast for the item. The user can review the current consumption forecast and additional details of an established stocking program and request modification of the forecast as desired.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/498,465filed Feb. 4, 2000, now pending, which in turn claims the benefit ofprovisional patent application Ser. No. 60/173,717 filed Dec. 30, 1999,the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates generally to conducting electroniccommercial transactions over a computer network. More particularly, thepresent invention relates to a web site wherein a customer can view andmodify a consumption forecast of an established stocking program over acomputer network.

[0003] Electronic commerce systems for conducting commercialtransactions over a distributed computer network, such as the Internet,are shown and described in numerous U.S. patents, including U.S. Pat.Nos. 5,285,383 and 5,063,507 to Lindsey et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,963,915to Kirsch et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,319,542 to King, Jr. et al., and U.S.Pat. No. 5,774,873 to Berent et al.

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,963,915 to Kirsch et al. discloses a system andmethod for performing Internet transactions between a client browser anda merchant server. The method includes establishing a coded identifier(i.e., a cookie) on the browser which corresponds to an account recordstored on the server; providing a web page including a URL identifyingan item for sale to the browser; receiving the URL, with a reference tothe coded identifier, at the merchant server; validating the codedidentifier; and recording the identity of the corresponding item. Themethod is intended to avoid redundant user input, to provide for securetransactions, and to increase transaction efficiencies. The patentfurther discloses techniques for providing additional levels ofauthentication and security, restrictions on shipping destination, ande-mail confirmation of orders. The determination of when to send aconfirmation can be made subject to the dollar amount of the purchase,user”s purchase history, or other criteria selected by the vendorserver.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 5,319,542 to King, Jr. et al. discloses a systemfor ordering items from a supplier. The system includes an electroniccatalogue and an electronic requisition facility. The catalogue includesa public-access portion, stored on a publicly-accessible database foraccess by customers, and a private portion, stored on a customer”scomputer system. The private portion contains unique pricing data basedon pricing agreements. Customers use the electronic requisition facilityto create purchase requisitions based on the information in theelectronic catalogue. The requisitions are routed through an appropriateapproval process, processed through the customer”s procurement system,and transmitted to the supplier.

[0006] Electronic commercial transactions such as those described inKing, Jr. et al. commonly take place over the World Wide Web. The WorldWide Web is a collection of servers connected to the Internet thatutilize the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). This protocol permitsdocuments (commonly referred to as web pages) written in a standardmark-up language (e.g., html) to be transmitted across the Internet fromremote server computers to client computers, even where such remote andclient computers share different operating systems or platforms. Abrowser application running on the client computer then translates thecommonly formatted documents and displays them to the user. Groups ofcommonly owned and related web pages are referred to as web sites andprovide online customers with the ability to select the individualcontent they wish to view without necessarily viewing all the contentpublished by the site owner.

[0007] Although systems for implementing electronic commercialtransactions, such as those described in King Jr., et al. are known inthe art, these systems are typically focused toward the retailenvironment in which individual purchasers order products from an onlineretailer on an as needed basis. Conversely, in the realm of bulkmaterial purchases and business-to-business commercial transactions, itis common for purchasers to order large quantities of materials, basedupon a usage forecast or consumption schedule. In fulfillment of suchbusiness needs, a supplier may offer the purchaser a variety of orderingmethods including conventional one-time orders as well as complexordering methods such as standing and blanket orders and stockingprograms.

[0008] A conventional one-time order is simply an order by a purchaserfor a particular quantity of product to be wholly delivered at aparticular place and time. This is substantially analogous to theas-needed retail model discussed above. A standing order, conversely, isan order by a purchaser for a particular quantity of material to bedelivered at regular intervals (e.g., 1000 lbs. per month, every month).Typically, standing orders include a defined ending date, however, thisdate may be extended through mutual agreement of the supplier andpurchaser. A blanket order is an agreement between the purchaser and thesupplier wherein the purchaser agrees to take a certain quantity of aproduct within a predetermined time period and the supplier agrees toreserve that quantity of product for the purchaser, thereby guaranteeingboth the sale to the supplier as well as the availability to thepurchaser.

[0009] Stocking programs are similar to standing and blanket orders inthat a supplier agrees to always deliver a given product within acertain amount of time, upon demand by the purchaser. In this manner,stocking programs guarantee product availability to a purchaser withoutrequiring an excessive inventory of the product to be stored on thepurchaser”s site. Typically involved in stocking programs are estimatesas to the amount of product a purchaser will require in a given timeperiod. Initially, this estimate is provided by the purchaser in theform of an initial consumption forecast. However, following apredetermined period of time, the supplier may revise the consumptionforecast in accordance with the actual demands of the purchaser. In thismanner, the supplier can more accurately predict the future consumptionof the purchaser.

[0010] Standing and blanket ordering programs as well as stockingprograms are suitable for large businesses that require regulardeliveries of materials, but who do not wish to inventory the materialson site. Further, these types of orders alleviate the need forpurchasers to place repeated orders for identical materials. Rather, thepurchaser may simply request a release of materials as part of thepre-established complex order. Based upon the needs of a particularpurchaser, different ordering methods are more appropriate than others.

[0011] Two examples of complex ordering systems may be found in U.S.Pat. No. 5,771,172 to Yamamoto et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,006,196 toFeigin et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,771,172 to Yamamoto et al. discloses a rawmaterials ordering system wherein production quantities of raw materialsare determined in accordance with changing production plans. Theordering system receives sales information from retail outlets andmanufactures products in response to the received sales information.This system, which determines the order size of each raw materialaccording to a production plan for a product, comprises an orderquantity determining means which sequentially sets or modifies therequired quantities of raw materials for each day in accordance with thedaily production plan or changes in the production plan and determinesthe order size in accordance with the attributes, inventories, orderbacklogs and in-process quantities of the raw materials and saidrequired quantities of raw materials and a data input processing meanswhich modifies said inventory quantities in response to raw materialacceptance information and modifies said production plan and rawmaterial inventory quantities in response to production data. Thiseliminates the need for the supplier to maintain large raw materialinventories.

[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 6,006,196 to Feigin et al. discloses a method ofplanning and managing inventory in distribution systems. The disclosedsystem utilizes enhanced DRP (distribution resource planning) logic topredict future inventory requirements. The enhancement to conventionalDRP includes taking future demand variability into consideration whenmaking the prediction. This is done using several distinct statisticalalgorithms. By utilizing future demand variability, the system enhancesperformance projection capabilities so as to reduce the likelihood thata proper inventory will be maintained.

[0013] Although a myriad of different product ordering and inventorymanagement systems are known, the issue of convenience and efficiencyremains in the electronic commercial transaction environment. Typically,product orders, as well as any additions and modifications to theorders, are placed in writing or over the telephone, and are oftenaccompanied by additional ancillary determinations such as adetermination regarding the credit worthiness of the purchaser or adetermination regarding the payment method being utilized. Theseconventional forms of communication often result in substantial delaysbetween the date an order is placed or modified, and the effect date ofthe order or modification. There remains a clear need in the realm ofbusiness-to-business electronic commercial transactions to provide forincreased convenience in monitoring and modifying complex orders,particularly those which arise out of established stocking programs.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The present invention overcomes the problems noted above, andprovides additional advantages, by providing a method and system forenabling purchasers in electronic commercial transactions to monitor andmodify the consumption forecast of established stocking programs. Amethod in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention isperformed by providing, through a web site on the World Wide Web, ameans for determining the identity of a user. Upon identification of theuser, the user may select a stocking program option, which results in alisting of all of the user's previously established stocking programs.The user may then select a particular stocking program and view thedetails of the selected stocking program. The user may then initiateelectronic communication with the supplier to modify the stockingprogram.

[0015] Methods, systems and programs in accordance with the presentinvention greatly increase the efficiency and convenience ofparticipating in stocking programs for bulk materials, such aschemicals, by reducing or eliminating the need to interact, eitherorally or in writing, with a customer service representative. Further,the present invention provides for increased convenience in monitoringthe consumption forecast established for a given stocking program.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The present invention can be understood more completely byreading the following Detailed Description of exemplary embodiments, inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0017]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a computer network suitable forimplementing a method according to the present invention; and

[0018]FIG. 2 is a flow chart describing a process for enablingcommercial web site users to monitor and modify a forecast of anestablished stocking program over the network of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] A computer system 10 connected to a computer network such as theInternet is generally illustrated in FIG. 1. A conventional clientcomputer system 12 (hereinafter client) owner by a customer, executes aclient browser application that supports the HTTP protocol, (e.g.,Internet Explorer™, available from Microsoft Corporation). The client 12is typically connected through an Internet Service Provider (ISP) to theInternet 14. A supplier owned server computer system 16 (hereinafterserver) is also coupled typically through an Internet Service Providerto the Internet 14. The server 16, controlled by a local console 18,executes a web server application and also hosts at least one web pagefor distribution over the Internet.

[0020] The client 12 requests a web page by issuing a URL requestthrough the Internet 14 to the server system 16. A URL consistent withthe present invention may be a simple URL of the form:

[0021] <protocol_identifier>://<server_path>/<web_page_path>

[0022] A protocol_identifier of http specifies the conventionalhyper-text transfer protocol. A URL request for a secure Internettransaction typically utilizes the secure protocol identifier https,assuming that the client browser and web server are presumed to supportand implement the secure sockets layer (SSL). The server_path istypically of the form prefix.domain, where the prefix is typically wwwto designate a web server and the domain is the standard Internetsub-domain.top-level-domain of the server 1 6. The optionalweb_page_path is provided to specifically identify a particularhyper-text page maintained by the web server.

[0023] In response to a received URL identifying an existing web page,the server 16 returns the web page, subject to the HTTP protocol, to theclient 12. This web page typically incorporates both textural andgraphical information including embedded hyper-text links (hereinafterhyperlink) that permit the client user to readily select a next URL forissuance to the Internet 14.

[0024] The URL issued from the client 12 may also be of a complex formthat identifies a common gateway interface (CGI) program on server 16.Such a HTML hyperlink reference is typically of the form:

[0025] <form action=http://www.vendor.com/cgi-bin/logon.cgi method=post>

[0026] A hyperlink of this form directs the execution of the logon.cgiprogram on an HTTP server in response to a client side selection of ahyperlink. A logon form supported by a logon CGI program is typicallyused to obtain a client user login name and password to initiate anauthenticated session between the client browser and Web server forpurposes of supporting, for example, a secure purchase transaction.

[0027] Referring now to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a flow chartdescribing one embodiment of a method for enabling purchasers in anelectronic commercial transactions to monitor and modify the status ofstocking programs. This method can be implemented by a software programresident in one or more servers associated with the supplier.

[0028] In step 200, the server 14 receives a request by the client 12 toaccess the web site. Once the request is received by the server 14, theprocess continues to step 202 in which the server 14 interacts with theclient 12, in a conventional manner, to determine the identity of theparticular customer operating the client 12. One conventional method ofdetermining identity is the logon form briefly described above, althoughany suitable method for identifying a particular customer user may beutilized (e.g., cookies, etc.). Upon identification of the particularcustomer, the server displays to the customer, in step 204, a main website page including a menu of possible web site options, including aReview Stocking Programs option. In step 206, the server receives arequest by the customer to display the Review Stocking Programs option.In step 208, upon selection of the Review Stocking Programs option, theserver accesses a database including customer information and determineswhether the particular customer has previously established at least onestocking program with the supplier. If it is determined that theparticular customer does not have any previously established stockingprograms, the server displays, in step 210, a message informing thecustomer that no stocking programs have been established and directs thecustomer to contact a customer service representative (CSR) foradditional information.

[0029] If, however, it is determined that the particular customer doeshave at least one previously established stocking program, the serverdisplays, in step 212, a web page listing of all such programs. Thecustomer may then request that the server display the program detailsfor a particular stocking program in step 214. Such a request may beaccomplished by any suitable method, including hyperlinks, forms, etc.Upon receiving a request to view the details of a particular stockingprogram, the server displays, in step 216, a web page including adetailed description of the terms of the selected stocking program. Suchdetails preferably include: the order number, the item number for theproduct ordered, the unit price of the product, the start date of theprogram, and the expiration date of the program. Also displayed are theconsumption forecast for the upcoming month, the consumption forecastand actual consumption for the current month, the forecast consumptionand the actual consumption for the previous six months, and a numericalvalue representing the accuracy of the previous six month's forecast.Also included in the display of detailed information are options tomodify the forecast, return to the complex order listing web page, orreturn to the main web site page.

[0030] The customer may then review the information displayed by theserver in step 216 and determine, in step 217, whether they wish tomodify the forecast for a given stocking program. If the customer doesnot wish to modify the forecast, they may request, in step 218, that theserver return them to the stocking program listing page. Alternatively,the customer may request, in step 220, that the server return them tothe main web site page.

[0031] If the customer desires to modify the forecast, they requestforecast modification in step 222. Upon receiving such a request, theserver determines whether the stocking program is expired in step 224.If it is determined that the order is expired, a message is displayed tothe customer, in step 226, indicating that the selected program hasexpired and that they should contact their CSR. If it is determined thatthe program is not expired, the server displays a modification entrypage, in step 228, in which the user enters information regarding themanner in which they would like to modify the forecast. The modificationentry page may take any suitable form, including electronic mailcorrespondence and html-based forms. Generally, a forecast modificationincludes a modification to the amount of product consumed by thepurchaser in the predetermined period. Preferably, the chosen method ofmodification entry includes an indication as to the particular stockingprogram which is being modified. By default, this indication indicatesthe particular stocking program whose details were last viewed. However,in step 230, the user may alter the stocking program indication so as torequest a modification to a stocking program other than the mostrecently viewed program. Alteration of the stocking program indicationis desirable in instances where multiple program forecasts are similarlychanged and eliminates the need to display the details of each programprior to modification of its forecast.

[0032] The modification entry page also includes options to cancel themodification, and submit the modification. Upon receipt of a request tocancel the modification in step 232, the server returns the customer tothe stocking program listing web page. Upon receipt of a forecastmodification in step 234, the server determines, in step 236 whether thestocking program indication is valid. If so, in step 238, the serverdelivers the submitted modification to appropriate customer servicepersonnel for implementation. However, if the stocking programindication is invalid, the server, in step 240, displays an errormessage indicating that the program indication is invalid and returnsthe user to the modification entry page.

[0033] While the foregoing description includes many details andspecificities, it is to be understood that these have been included forpurposes of explanation only, and are not to be interpreted aslimitations of the present invention. Many modifications to theembodiments described above can be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention, as is intended to be encompassed bythe following claims and their legal equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for enabling commercial web site usersto monitor and modify an established stocking program consumptionforecast over a computer network, comprising the steps of: receiving, ata web site server associated with a supplier, a request for access tothe web site, by a client associated with a customer, determining anidentity of the customer, retrieving, using the determined identity,information regarding at least one established stocking program from adatabase associated with the web site server, wherein the stockingprogram comprises an agreement between the supplier and the customer toguarantee availability of a stocking program item based upon theconsumption forecast for the item, displaying, to the customer, alisting of at least one established stocking program, receiving, at theweb site server, a selection of a particular stocking program,displaying, to the customer, the consumption forecast for the particularstocking program, receiving, at the web site server, a request to modifythe consumption forecast of the particular stocking program, anddelivering the request to the supplier over the computer network.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the identity of thecustomer includes the step of receiving, at the server, a login formfrom the customer, wherein the login form includes a username andpassword unique to the customer.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein saidstep of retrieving information regarding at least one establishedstocking program comprises retrieving information regarding allpreviously established stocking programs.
 4. The method of claim 1,further including the steps of: displaying, to the customer, a main webpage having a stocking program option, receiving, at the server, arequest to view a stocking program listing page, displaying, to thecustomer, the stocking program listing page provided the customer has atleast one established stocking program, and displaying, to the customer,an error message if the customer does not have at least one establishedstocking program.
 5. The method of claim 4, further including the stepsof: receiving, at the server, a request to view a stocking programdetails page for a selected stocking program, displaying, to thecustomer, the stocking program details page for the selected stockingprogram, receiving, at the server, a request to view a modificationentry web page, displaying, to the customer, a modification entry webpage, receiving, at the server, forecast modification information, anddelivering, to the supplier, the forecast modification information.
 6. Aserver in communication with a computer network including a plurality ofuser computer terminals, the server including a memory storing machinereadable computer code comprising: one of more instructions forreceiving, from a customer, a request for access to a web site, one ofmore instructions for determining an identity of the customer, one ofmore instructions for displaying to the customer, a listing of one ormore established stocking programs, one of more instructions forreceiving a request to modify a consumption forecast for a particularcomplex order selected from the one or more established complex orders,and one or more instructions for delivering the received request to thesupplier over the computer network.
 7. The server of claim 6, whereinthe one or more instructions for determining the identity of thecustomer further include one or more instructions for receiving, at theserver, a login form from the customer, wherein the login form includesa username and password unique to the customer.
 8. The server of claim6, wherein the one or more instructions for retrieving informationregarding at least one established stocking program further comprisesone or more instructions for retrieving information regarding allpreviously established stocking programs.
 9. The server of claim 6,wherein the machine readable computer code further comprises: one ormore instructions for displaying, to the customer, a main web pagehaving a stocking program option, one or more instructions forreceiving, at the server, a request to view a stocking program listingpage, one or more instructions for displaying, to the customer, thestocking program listing page provided the customer has at least oneestablished stocking program, and one or more instructions fordisplaying, to the customer, an error message if the customer does nothave at least one established stocking program.
 10. The server of claim9, wherein the machine readable computer code further comprises: one ormore instructions for receiving, at the server, a request to view astocking program details page for a selected stocking program, one ormore instructions for displaying, to the customer, the stocking programdetails page for the selected stocking program, one or more instructionsfor receiving, at the server, a request to view a modification entrywebpage, one or more instructions for displaying, to the customer, amodification entry web page, one or more instructions for receiving, atthe server, forecast modification information, and one or moreinstructions for delivering, to the supplier, the forecast modificationinformation.
 11. A system for enabling commercial web site users toestablish releases of quantities of products included in a complexpurchase order, comprising: a server associated with a supplier, saidserver hosting at least one web page, a client associated with acustomer, said client being connected to the server through the computernetwork for access to the at least one web page, said server includingmeans for identifying the customer, said server including a database forstoring stocking program information associated with the customer, saidstocking program information comprising a listing of all establishedstocking programs placed by the customer with the supplier, wherein thestocking program comprises an agreement between the supplier and thecustomer to guarantee availability of a stocking program item based uponthe consumption forecast for the item, said server including means forreceiving a request from the customer to modify the consumption forecastfor a particular stocking program selected from the one or moreestablished complex orders, and said server including means forelectronically delivering the request to the supplier.
 12. The system ofclaim 11, wherein said means for identifying the customer furtherincludes means for receiving, at the server, a login form from thecustomer, wherein the login form includes a username and password uniqueto the customer.
 13. The system of claim 11, wherein said means forretrieving information regarding at least one established stockingprogram further comprises means for retrieving information regarding allpreviously established stocking programs.
 14. The system of claim 11,further comprising: means for displaying, to the customer, a main webpage having a stocking program option, means for receiving, at theserver, a request to view a stocking program listing page, means fordisplaying, to the customer, the stocking program listing page providedthe customer has at least one established stocking program, and meansfor displaying, to the customer, an error message if the customer doesnot have at least one established stocking program.
 15. The system ofclaim 14, further comprising: means for receiving, at the server, arequest to view a stocking program details page for a selected stockingprogram, means for displaying, to the customer, the stocking programdetails page for the selected stocking program, means for receiving, atthe server, a request to view a modification entry web page, means fordisplaying, to the customer, a modification entry web page, means forreceiving, at the server, forecast modification information, and meansfor delivering, to the supplier, the forecast modification information.